HOTS CLUB I MEAN HOST CLUB

[stay_classy_cat]

Who: "Seth" and Voile and YOU
What: HOST CLUB
Where: AE13, on the bottom floor of the student dorms.
When: future-dated a bit to Thursday, 5/16
Warnings: Sexy Nurses and Contests
Warnings redux: dude tag yourself in

Ring ring...

Hello, it's me again~

How's business, pussycat?

Going very well, thank you for asking. That snafu with the production plant under the church put a bit of a bottleneck on the market, but it's not like that's a bad thing. I've already made plenty from it, so no fur off my back. All the chaos in the city is very entertaining.

Ha ha ha, all the better since everyone's pointing fingers at the school now anyway.

I hope you're just as happy on your end.

It is, isn't it.

Yes, how are they going?

That's still a problem? Ugh. What haven't you tried yet?

What if... what about that thing I found under the school?

Yes, that substance it was leaking. I've never seen anything like it before, let alone from a trophy. You still have the samples, don't you?

Yeah.

Oh good.

That sounds promising already~

Tell you what, since you've been working so hard on this, why not give me the prototypes and let me test them out? I have a few targets in mind.

It's Thursday; Graduation/Prom is still a few weeks off but finals are swiftly approaching the students of Smash Academy. Seth has been a busy bee, if not with unscrupulous activities preparing for said finals, then he has been dutifully making Host Club beautiful. More accurately, him and Voile have worked especially hard on this one to help raise money for those suffering from the drug riots and related violence.

Much like any other Host Club session, AE13 has been transformed into something bright, cheery, and very spring-like. Spring has definitely sprung all over the tables and flowery decor here. Food seems to especially be in surplus this session, with tables lining the borders of the room in a sort of buffet style. It's not just cookies, pastries, fruits, or snacks, but there is an entire table dedicated to those with a sweet tooth. (Most are actually not drugged but if you want to have shenanigans, then by all means go for it.) There are still some items exclusive to a menu that necessitate the need for a host/server. Alternatively, you could tell your host to go get stuff at the buffet for you, that is just as practical.

There's surely something here for everyone... and if not, he'll make it happen. As in, he'll make the servers make it happen.


To get this Host Club kicked off, Seth stands, in all his grandiose attire, and clinks a glass with his fork. "If I could have everyone's attention for a moment, please?" Once he has it, he clears his throat.

"First of all, I'd like to welcome you all to this Host Club. Voile and I worked especially hard on it, so thank you for coming. You should know you're not only supporting our efforts but all generous donations and proceedings will go directly to victims afflicted by these recent strings of cruel violence."

"Did you know it was National Nurse's Week last week? I thought it would only be appropriate then to have this Host Club's theme be that of healing--Healing and appreciation for those who work hard to help others, who don't get enough appreciation for their efforts."

"Like poor Rhys! I swear he'd work himself ragged if he gave himself the chance. He needs our love and support, and, if I may direct your attention to our beautiful, charming hostess Voile," Seth waves his hand in the air and points at her, where a well-choreographed spotlight follows up onto the mini-stage erected in the room. "--really, everyone look, she is absolutely stunning in that dress, give her a big round of applause--She will tell you exactly how you can offer a healing hand."

HOST CLUB:
▷ If you want your character to BE SERVED, just sit them down at any table and start making orders.
▷ If you want your character to SERVE, as in you want to put your character in an embarrassing outfit and serve the people sitting at the tables, go right ahead. There are no OOC sign-ups. This session's Host Club's outfit theme is SEXY NURSE. Take your pick of outfit from conservative and modern to increasingly provocative. If you're a server and can't think of any willing/legit reasons why on earth they would be here in a sexy nurse outfit you can assume Seth more or less forced/tricked/convinced/blackmailed your poor unfortunate character into the act.
▷ ONCE YOU PICK server OR served, your character must to stick with it until this Host Club meeting is done, that is the only rule. No escaping, no sneaking out. Seth will CATCH YOU and make you CLEAN DISHES with a TOOTHBRUSH.

HOST CLUB CONTEST:
▶ If you remember how last year's Student/Faculty Auctions went and how the Pokemon Contests work, this may feel familiar. Your character needs to pay a measly $5 entry fee (which will be a charitable donation to help those involved in drug riot incidents) and then they can enter in any of the contest categories; Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Intelligence, and Strength. PERFORM your act of [insert category here] and impress everyone! Get creative, use your Smashing Skills and wow the crowd. If you damage the stage or make a mess, Connor and Flint will probably not be happy with you.
▶ As an audience member, you cast your vote by typing a +1 into your subject title (not unlike the auctions with the dollar amounts). That's it! You can vote as many times as you like, just not for multiple times for the same person in the same category (so no +2's or +3's or +9000's). You can, however, vote for the same person once in each category if they are competing in more than one. You can cast a vote for more than one person per category.
▶ Votes will be tallied up OOCly Thursday or Friday, and we will start a new thread to announce the winner.

Comments

[trustycrowbar]

He doesn't mind explaining, as long as she wants to listen.

"Your move first, then." He replies with an inviting gesture. Hm. He shouldn't pull punches because in chess, like on a battlefield, opponents will generally not show you the same kindness. It sounds cruel, but that's the way it is. He won't do her any favors by manufacturing mercy.

But, then again... it's Eirika.

[heartofarapier]

Her move. Her move to show just how inexperienced she is with it. Eirika likes cards, admittedly. Although that extends to something akin to solitaire, and for more social games - cribbage. Most of Eirika's time has been spent with studies, sparring, and times when she can evade her attendants in favour of solitude time.

She eyes her pawns and looks over his, trying to consider what her brother would do. "I don't pick fights I can't win." He would play confidently. And if it it's Innes, he'll go for the throat. She's too gentle for such an approach.

Eirika settles for the pawn furthest on her right and pushes it forward. "Where did you develop your fondness for it? Chess, I mean."

[trustycrowbar]

"Back in university. My classmates and I made up half the chess club. You don't see too many physics grad students at parties, and unlike our other hobby which was 'building dangerous objects out of materials borrowed from the labs with no intent to return,' the school actually ENCOURAGED this one."

He moves a pawn nearer the center.

[heartofarapier]

For many moments, she stares at him blankly. And in the back of her mind, she decides that procuring a dictionary would be a wise decision on her part. That way, each time Gordon says something she doesn't understand, she can just look up each word.

But at least she could get some of what he said. Another piece forward and she addresses him, "Naturally. Chess is a constructive use of time. Good for clearing the mind and honing one's tactical prowess. At least, according to my brother. Making dangerous objects always has a potential to lessen mankind's survivability."

She smiles, "I am a woman of peace. You'll find I may oppose your danger, Dr. Freeman." Is she teasing? Is she serious? A little of both, perhaps.

[trustycrowbar]

He raises an eyebrow at the last bit, but the corner of his mouth raises with it. "In our defense, most of the time we didn't even know how dangerous the things were until we found out the hard way."

When he wasn't making railguns and launchers for the hell of it, that is. Which... happened more often then he's going to admit here. Another pawn is put into play, threatening hers.

"It's the nature of experimentation, lamentable as the consequences can be..."

[heartofarapier]

Eirika stares at their shared board with some thought. Pawns move... diagonally to take other pieces, right? Moving all the pawns forward in one foul swoop seems to be suicide. She tries to imagine it as a skirmish with Grado soldiers, and that goes a little poorly. Because then she doesn't want to send any of the pawns to go at her expense.

Not to mention that if she were the queen piece, she wouldn't be waiting in the back. Chess. What a frustrating game that plays on war politics. She's too gentle, she thinks, for such a thing.

"The nature of experimentation. A valid point. Without experimentation, no one would be any the wiser." she concedes with interest. "Do you believe in pacifism, Instructor? I'd think not. You're very logical. And logically, pacifism can't exist."

Resting her right hand's forefinger over her endangered pawn, she sets her sights on the man across the table from her with inquisitive blue eyes, as if trying to predict what his following moves will be. One sacrifice is acceptable. Sometimes a risk must be taken. She can capture him later, can't she?

[trustycrowbar]

Believe it or not, he looks at her with a little bit of surprise, and says at length. "...You'd be right. Competition and strife is part of our most basic instincts. And while it's nice to think that we can just turn off, or ignore our instincts in favor of some perfect, peaceful society, it's not that easy."

"I like to look at it this way; instinct is like a huge, powerful dog that is your constant companion and indispensable for your protection... as long as you remember to feed it occasionally."

[heartofarapier]

She nods. Her presumption wasn't incorrect. Is her ability to read all people as good? No. Gordon wasn't so much a lucky guess as it was mere observance. She knew it from a single conversation with her. And perhaps that's because she's used to everyone else being more logical. She is heartfelt, wears hers on her sleeve, and is a passionate soul.

Heart really has no place in logic.

"Competition I can understand. Strife..." She allows him her pawn and focuses on the opposite side of her board. "...I cannot. I don't wish to believe it is in man's nature to clash steel and conquer. If I were to lead my people in such a way, I doubt I'd be anything but tyrannical. Protective, yes. Defensive, yes. Offensive... I'd rather never lift my sword unless I absolutely must. And I feel the world would be a kinder place if that sentiment could be universal."

But again, illogical. Yet, she refuses to believe it's impossible. And perhaps that is why Ephraim feels Eirika would be a better queen than he a king.

[trustycrowbar]

Good choice. Her rook would have been forfeit otherwise.

"It's man's nature to test each other, not necessarily though violence; although the more... underdeveloped specimens turn to violence often. Sometimes you have no choice but to meet them at it. How does the phrase go...? 'I don't start fights, but I sure as hell try to finish them.'"

He picks up a piece, pauses, moves it.

"The board you're looking at is a good example of competition without violence. I's what I mean by feeding the beast... It's a pleasant idea, a world without war and violence. Our friend Cyrus is somewhat obsessive over it, and I admit it's not impossible through some future social mechanism that I can't imagine. I get the feeling, though, that we wouldn't like what we ultimately turn into."

[heartofarapier]

Is she watching him more than she's listening? No. Probably the opposite. But she's trying, and that's a good start.

His phrasing, though a little crude, she supposes, does make her crack a smile. Would Ephraim say something like that? No. Probably not. Because Ephraim would pick a fight if he had to. Provided he wouldn't lose it. It's something that sticks with her - how she should be more like her brother.

Her interest is piqued when he mentions Cyrus and she nods. "I know who you speak of. I too, like the idea of such a world, but I know very well that sometimes one has to fight. Survival. Protection." Sitting back, she adjusts her sitting position to be a little more comfortable and then leaning forward, she moves another piece. Most of her maneuvers seem to be defensive, which makes sense coming from her by this point.

"What do you think would become of a world without war and violence?"

[trustycrowbar]

A knight is moved.

"I don't think it would never really vanish. It would just be carefully relegated to those in power, who would use it on the poor pacifistic populous as they saw fit... for our own good of course."

[heartofarapier]

She thought about that, even as she watched him shift his knight. Just what kind of strategy was he going for? Except she couldn't answer that because Eirika was certainly no tactician. And once more, trying to compare herself to her brother or Innes just wasn't a very successful way to go. She had only to be herself.

"Tyranny, then?" Eirika asked him curiously.

She thought to his knight again, and rather than to be too proactive, she chose another pawn. But the general idea was to see if she could use a rook or a bishop piece to take his threatening piece.

[trustycrowbar]

He wanted to press her. To see what she does under pressure, albeit just in a game. Another pawn to back up the knight.

"It's a pessimistic view, I admit, but things like that happen all too often. The strong impose themselves on the weak, and their go-to method is usually violence. I'm not saying it's right. But it does happen."

[heartofarapier]

"Then allow me to present you with a hypothetical question. You won't have all of the information you need to make the conclusion, but perhaps you'll have enough observation." She gives a small little smile as she speaks, more focused on her words than the movements. At least, at first.

His pawn moves and she bites into her lower lip. Well, as subtly as she can. The girl has never been known for much of a poker face. There's no assault without some sacrifice. And chess is not a pacifistic game and cannot be won with those ideals. Perhaps that'll make her the loser.

"What sort of queen do you suppose I'll be, considering you know my views? You've had ample time to observe me with other people, your fellow pupils, and with you. I'm sure you can form some kind of opinion."

She boldly moves her rook from her side of the board to the first obstacle it finds.